Improvement in reaping-machines



v C. FOSTER. Harvester Cutter and Baker;

No. 41461. Patente'dApril 18, 1846.

PATENT 0am.

CLINTON FOSTER, OF LA PORTE COUNTY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN REAPING-MACHINE S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4,46l, dated April 18,1846.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON FOSTER, of the county of La Porto and Stateof Indiana, have invented a new and useful machine for the purpose ofcutting and raking all kinds of grain and hemp, which I call a Gutterand Baker and ldo hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichmake a part of this specification- Figure 1 representing the machine ina state of readiness for use; Fig. 2, the steel bar to which the knivesor cutters are attached; Fig. 3, the rake which deposits the grain,after being cut, in gavels on the ground; Fig. 4, one of the angularpoints that divide the grain and gather it within reach of the knivesand cut IGIS.

The nature of my invention consists in a framed machine on wheels, setin motion by horse-power, so arranged that the grain is cut and gatheredas the machine advances.

In Fig. 1, A A are two parts of asuitable frame, which, if prolonged atcm, would make shafts for a horse or horses, by which it is, to bedrawn.

B B B B are cross-pieces, which are joined to A A by screws and nutsfrom the frame.

To one of the last-mentioned cross-pieces a coupling-pole may beattached, while the front part of the frame rests upon a car, or theaxle and forward wheels of a wagon, which will supersede the use ofshafts.

O is an upright post attached to the frame A A, and projecting upward tosupport the lever D; E E, two strong pieces of wood on each side of theframe A A, and projecting downward to support the frame-work F F F ofthe cutter and raker. H is another timber running horizontally of theframe A A, and connects the upper part of the frame F F F.

I is a brace. K is a piece of wood attached to the timber H to supportthe second lever,L.

N is an iron rod to connect the levers L and D at f and g, which operateas herein last described; 0, an upright post to connect and secure thetimber H with the frame F F F; P, a board inclosing the ra'ker; Q Q, twodovetailed pieces attached to the frame F F F, to guide the slide 1' 1,which moves through their whole length; i i, an iron rod attached to andcarried by the slide 1' r; h h. a crank or lever to raise or lower theiron teeth M M M, which are attached to and project from i t, whichtogether'form the rake; k, a pitman or rod to connect the crank or leverh h with the second lever, L; l l l l, boards across the frame F F F; mm 111, spaces between the boards l l Z Z, wide enough to allow theaction of the teeth M M M freely; R R R R R R, projecting angular pointsto divide and gather the grain between them.

S S S, &c., are iron or steel knives, sharpened or edged, upon which thecutters'T T T T T slide, and are fastened at one end to a part of frameF F F and at the other to the points R R, 860., by bolts, which alsofasten the feuders o 0 0 0, &c., at their ends. so as to leave a spacebetween the knives S S S, 850., and the iron fenders 0 0 0 0, &c.,sufficient for the cutters T T T T T to pass between them. The cuttersare of steel and sharp on two sides, and fastened at proper distances ona movable iron bar, a a, &c., by screws.

The iron bar a a, &c., is connected by a bolt, n, to a wooden slide, '0.The slide '0 is connected by a pin or bolt, 19, to aswingingframe, W WW, which frame is connected by a bolt, t, to another frame, X X. The twoframes W W W and X X are moved to and from the large wheel Z to throwthe machine in or out of gear at pleasure by means of the lever on.

On the inside of the two upright pieces of the swinging frame W W W arefastened wedge-shaped projections y y, corresponding with similarprojections, to w 10, 8am, upon the wheel Z, which, coming in contact,give motion to the cutters, or the same motion may be produced bytraveling rollers.

On each side of the rim of the wheel Z, alternately and at properdistances, are secured wedge-shaped projections or knobs w w w w, &c.,to give motion, as already said, to the cutters.

Z is the large wheel revolving upon axle a or within the frame A A A,and supporting the same; f f, two friction-rollers to guide the wheel Z,running in blocks b b, which are attached to the frame A A A.

Fig. 2 exhibits the cutters T T, 830., which may be sunk into the bar aa, level with its surface, and made fast to said bar with screws, so asto be taken off and ground when neces sary; b w, a wheel to sustain theframe F F F. Fig. 3 exhibits the rake and its action, the teeth of whichassume ahorizoutal or perpeu- T dicular position (as they pass backwardand forward) by the action of this crank or lever h h.

Fig. 4 shows one of the angular points R, with its knives S S attached,without the fenders 0 0.

Operation: lVhcn Worki mg the raker by hand the operator moves the leverD to the right and left. This gives a similar motion, by means of theconnecting-rod N, to the second lever, L, which, being connected by thepitman is (shown in Fig. 3) to the crank-shaft ii, carry them, with theslides 'r 1', to-which they are attached,forward and backward thewholelength of the boards I l l l. At the same time, by the operation ofthe crank i i, the teeth M M M are elevated as they move forward, rakingoff the grain in gavels on the ground, and are depressed while returningfor another gavel.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

The manner of constructing the rake, and its connection with the floorof said machine, as herein described.

CLINTON FOSTER.

Witnesses:

J. BIGELOW, S. A. PEUGH.

